Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



J. G. MAOLAREN. PNEUMATIC DESPA'I'GH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION TILED APB. 16, 1908. 968,580. Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

J. G. MAGLAREN. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1908.

Patented Aug.30, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Illa/[lira n u n ms NORRIS PETERS cm, wAsm/vcmm :4 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES G. MACLAREN, OF WEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO LAMSON CONSOLI-DATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

PNEUMATIC-DESPATCH-TUBE APPARATUS.

through said tube thereby relieving the load upon the blower or pump andconsequently efiecting the saving of power. A balance valve is providedwhich is adapted to be electrically controlled to govern the shortcircuiting of the air and adapted when a carrier is to be despatched inthe system to switch the flow of air through the transmis sion tubes fordriving the carrier. This valve is operated by a magnet to switch theflow of air and while in operating position means are provided forreducing the current through the magnet until the carrier has deliveredat its destination.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a construction embodyingmy invention Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a pneumatic despatchtube system showing the parts in normal position and the electricconnections controlling the same. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectionalelevation of the c011- trolling mechanism showing the parts in normalposition. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 showing the parts inoperating position for switching the fiow of air through thetransmission tubes and loading the blower.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

C represents the cashiers or central station connected with the ordinarydelivery terminal 3 controlled by the usual valve 4 at the substation Sby means of a transmission tube I. The terminal 3 is connected with aterminal 7 at the central station by a return transmission tube 5 havingthe usual despatching inlet 6 for inserting carriers Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed April 16, 1908.

Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

Serial No. 427,356.

9 is a conduit or air tube connected with a low pressure side of ablower 10 at one end and at the opposite end with a casing 13; theterminal 7 is connected with the conduit 9 by a tube 8; 11 is anelectric motor adapted to drive the blower 10 by belt 12. The chamber 14in the casing 13 is adapted to communicate with the atmosphere throughports 15 and 16 controlled by the valves 17 and 18 respectively; thesevalves are substantially balanced against the pressure in chamber 14 andare mounted on the rod 26 slidable in the hangers 19 secured to thecasing 13.

20 is a lever fixed pivotally at 21, its upper end being slotted andadapted to operate rod 26 and valves 17 and 18 through a pin 22connected with said rod. 23 is a spring secured at one end at 24 and atthe other end at 25 to the lever 20; this spring 23 is adapted tonormally operate through the lever 20, pin 22 and rod 26 to hold thevalves 17 and 18 normally open (see Fig. 2) to admit air through ports15 and 16, chamber 14 and conduit 9 to the bore as indicated by arrows.

27 is a magnet and 28 is an armature for said magnet secured to thelever 20.

29 is a motor generator in circuit with, magnet 27 and switches 30 and31 located at the central station C and substation S respectively andadapted to supply current to the said magnet to operate and close valves17 and 18 through lever 20 by-means of armature 28.

32 represents an insulating rod movable in the hanger 33 and pivoted atone end at 34 to lever 20; 35 is a contact piece secured to the oppositeend of rod 32 and 36 is a similar contact piece mounted on insulator 37movable in the hanger 38 and 39 is a spring mounted on the insulator 37and adapted to maintain a slight tension on contact 36; these contacts35 and 36 form a normally open switch which is adapted to be closed whenthe magnet 27 is energized.

The switches 30 and 31 are normally open and adapted to be closed when acarrier is despatched from either the central station C or thesubstation S.

The circuit through switch 30 and magnet 27 is as follows: from thegenerator 29 through wire a, magnet 27, wire I), contact 35 wire 0,thence through switch 30 and wires d and 6 back to the generator 29. Theswitch 31 is connected in multiple through wires f and g.

40 is a circuit breaker connected with and adapted to be operated by thedelivery valve 4 at the substation S. ll is a similar circuit breakerconnected with and adapted to be operated by the delivery valve 7 atcentral station C. These circuit breakers 10 and 11 together with aresistance 42 are included in a shunt circuit represented by wires itconnected with wire j and wires j and is connected with the contactpiece 36.

The operation of the device is as follows: To despatch a carrier fromthe central station C to the substation S, the operator inserts thecarrier into the bell mouth 2 where it engages a trip 30 closing theswitch 30 completing the circuit through and energizing the magnet 27attracting the armature 28 and through lever 20 and rod 26 closing thevalves 17 and 18 as shown in Fig. 3 cutting off the flow of air throughthe casing 1st and switching the same through the bell mouth 2 transittubes 1 and 5, tube 8 and conduit 9 to the blower 10. The air nowentering the bell mouth 2 drives the carrier through tube 1 toward thesubstation S. Simultaneous with the closing of valves 17 and 18 thelever 20 operates through insulating rod 32 to move the contact 35against contact 36 completing a shunt circuit as follows: from generator29 through wire a, magnet 27, wire Z), contact 35 and contact 36 throughwire is and resistance 42, circuit, breaker 4E1, wire j, circuit breaker10 and wires h, f, and 6 back to the generator 29.

After the carrier has passed the trip 30*, the circuit through switch 30is broken and the magnet 27 is maintained energized through the shuntcircuit described, the resistance 12 regulating and furnishingsuiticient current only to the magnet 27 to retain armature 28. hen thecarrier delivers through valve t at the substation S, the circuitbreaker 40 operates to break the shunt circuit, deenergizing the magnet27 and releasing the armature 28. The tension of spring 23 now operatesthrough lever 20 and rod 26 to open valves 17 and 18 and admit airthrough ports 15 and 16 and chamber let to conduit 9 (see Fig. 2)thereby short circuiting the flow of air and relieving the load upon theblower 10.

If a carrier is to be despatched the sub station S to the centralstation, the operator opens the inlet 6 and inserts a carrier into tube5. The circuit through switch 31 and magnet 27 is closed by the openingof the inlet 6 and the magnet 27 is energized attracting armature 28 andclosing valves 17 and 18 as heretofore described cutting off the flow ofair through chamber 1 1 and switching the same through the bell mouth 2,transit tubes 1 and 5 and tube 8, at the same time the circuit is closedthrough con tacts 35 and 36 and circuit breakers 10 and 41. The inlet 6is now closed and the carrier is driven through tube toward station C,at the same time the switch 31 is opened and the magnet 27 is maintainedenergized through the shunt ircuit. hen the carrier delivers through thevalve 7 at central station C the circuit breaker 11 is operated breakingthe circuit through and deenergizing magnet 27, releasing armature 28and opening valves 17 and 18 relieving the load on blower 10.

Having thus described a construction embodying my invention and setforth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a. tube for the transmissionof carriers, a blower or pump, a connection between said tube and saidblower or pump whereby air is exhausted from said tube and provided withan air inlet, a normally-open valve controlling the admission of airthrough said inlet, means acting on said valve to maintain saidair-inlet open, electro-magnet-ic means arranged to be operated uponentering the carrier into the transmission tube to actuate the valve toclose the air-inlet thereby causing a flow of air through thetransmission tube to drive said carrier, and means adapted to beoperated by said carrier to open said valve and admit air through saidinlet.

2. In a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a tube for-the transmissionof carriers, a blower or pump, a connection between said tube and saidblower or pump whereby air is exhausted from said tube and provided withan air-inlet, a normally open valve controlling the admission of airthrough said inlet, means acting on said valve to maintain said airinletopen, electro-magnetic means arranged to be operated upon entering thecarrier into the transmission tube to actuate the valve to close theair-inlet thereby causing a flow of air through the trans mission tubeto drive said carrier, and means operated by said carrier fordeenergizing said electro-magnetic means and opening said valve to admitair through said inlet.

3. In a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a tube for the transmissionof carriers, a blower or pump, a connection between said tube and saidblower or pump whereby air is exhausted from said tube and provided withan air-inlet, a normally-open valve controlling the admission of airthrough said inlet, means acting on said Valve to maintain saidair-inlet open, electro-magnetic means including a circuit and arrangedto be operated upon entering the carrier into the transmission tube toactuate the valve to close the air-inlet thereby causing a flow Intestimony whereof, I have signed my 10 of air through the transmissiontube to drive name to this specification in the presence of saidcarrier, a shunt circuit, means for two subscribing Witnesses, thistenth day of switching the circuit through Eaid shunt to April A. D.1908.

maintain said magnet energize and means for breaking said shunt circuitand deener- JAMES MACLAREN' gizing said magnet upon the delivery of theWitnesses: carrier to open said valve and admit air ELsIE MAOLAREN,through said inlet. WM. HEPPERLE.

